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Book Review: The Round House – Louise Erdrich

Not often you read stories set on Indian reservations. The Round House is a saga of rape, exploitation and bravery – not an unfamiliar territory for native Indians on the reservations. A disgruntled white man connected to a powerful politician carries out a killing to hide the evidence of his own misdeeds and then compounds the crime by raping an eyewitness – and both the victims are Indian women. The story, told by the second victim’s son, is essentially an unraveling of the mystery of what actually transpired. The plot by itself isn’t exceptional but is told well. The setting is unique – the modern day life on Indian reservations is captured really well. However, what stands out is the voice of the narrator. A genuine teenaged voice, reminiscent of Salinger. The POV is strong, stark and deeply endearing.